Causes of Dizziness

For those suffering from sensation of motion or disorientation, trying to discern the causes of dizziness or vertigo can be quite a challenge. In order to better understand the causes of dizziness and the effect it has on your body, you must first understand the parts of the body that control its sense of balance. Most prominently, the eyes and inner ear play large roles in keeping the body balanced. Piecing together visual clues from the eyes and motion detections from the inner ear, the body is able to balance itself and stay oriented in its environment. When these signals are disrupted, however, the body’s sense of balance can be lost.

General cases of dizziness, as you may imagine, can be caused by a wide number of sources that vary in their severity and intensity. Problems as simple as muscular or joint weakness can create difficulty when walking or standing up that can often feel like dizziness or disorientation. Additionally, sight loss common in older individuals can also cause the brain to lack the visual cues it needs to maintain balance. Medicines such as sedatives, even when taken in correct doses, can also carry with them the side effect of dizziness. In all of these cases, the dizziness can be classified as disequilibrium and is usually not extremely serious and goes away.

Another cause of dizziness can be the more serious condition vertigo. Vertigo is characterized not only by dizziness, but also by an overwhelming sensation of movement, even if the sufferer is sitting or laying down. Other symptoms like abnormal eye movement, nausea, and even hallucinations can accompany vertigo. The causes of vertigo vary, but it can often be traced back to head trauma, inner ear infections, or brain tumors. If you believe that the cause of your dizziness could be persisting vertigo, seek medical attention as it may be a serious case that needs to be treated quickly.

A final category of causes of dizziness are characterized by anxiety and stress. In highly stressful situations, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and hyperventilation. In these situations, dizziness can often follow and may also lead to fainting. Individuals prone to panic attacks or hyperventilation should take measures to prevent these attacks from happening to avoid the dizziness and disorientation they feel.

Understanding the causes of dizziness and vertigo can help you better assess your condition and determine what action to take. When in doubt, ask a medical professional and avoid the situations that most frequently seem to make your dizziness worse.